Filed by a U.S. citizen or LPR to sponsor a family member.
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents petitioning for a spouse, child, parent, or sibling.
Form I-130 is the starting point for most family-based green card cases. A U.S. citizen or LPR files this on behalf of their eligible relative to establish the qualifying relationship.
U.S. citizen or LPR files I-130 for their relative
USCIS reviews and approves the petition
Case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC)
Wait for a visa number to become available (if required)
Relative applies for immigrant visa or adjusts status
The category assigned to your I-130 determines how long you'll wait for a visa number, and it depends on both your relationship and the petitioner's status:
Immediate Relative — spouse, unmarried child under 21, or parent of a U.S. citizen (petitioner must be 21+ for a parent). No waiting line; visa numbers are always available.
F1 — unmarried adult children (21+) of U.S. citizens
F2A — spouses and unmarried children under 21 of green card holders
F2B — unmarried adult children (21+) of green card holders
F3 — married children of U.S. citizens
F4 — siblings of U.S. citizens (petitioner must be 21+)
Only Immediate Relative cases skip the visa-number waiting line entirely — every other category is subject to per-country annual caps, which is why wait times can range from under a year to well over a decade depending on category and country.
Proof of the petitioner's U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status
Proof of the qualifying relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
Passport-style photos of both petitioner and beneficiary
Any prior name-change documentation (divorce decrees, legal name changes)
Incomplete relationship evidence. A marriage certificate alone is often not enough for USCIS to be satisfied the marriage is genuine — supporting evidence like joint finances or photos may be requested.
Wrong category selected. Misclassifying the relationship (e.g., listing a married child as unmarried) causes processing delays or denial.
Missing petitioner status proof. Forgetting to include a copy of your own citizenship or green card evidence is a frequent, avoidable delay.
Does I-130 approval mean my relative can move to the U.S. right away? Not necessarily — approval only establishes the qualifying relationship. Depending on the category, your relative may still need to wait for a visa number to become available before the next step.
Can I file I-130 for more than one relative at a time? Yes, but each relative needs a separate I-130 petition and filing fee.
What happens if the petitioner dies before the case is complete? This can affect the case significantly depending on the stage and category — consult an immigration attorney immediately, as some relief may be available under "humanitarian reinstatement" provisions.
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